Facing Worlds - Chapter 1

Chapter 10

I arrived at the museum about 20 minutes later. I looked at the exterior and I knew this was a pretty classy place. I was totally out of my element as Chelsee would say. I walked in the main entrance and went to the front desk. There was an old maidish looking receptionist there, and I got one day pass for the museum and looked around. I wasn't interested in the artwork today, but I needed to find a way to Chester's office.
As I began to look around, I saw an interesting object. A memorial to Chester. It showed him with the now infamous statuette that got this whole thing started in his hand, with a picture of the museum in the distance. As I made my way up towards the office section, narrowly avoiding security guards who would kick me out of the museum if I was caught in the area I couldn't kick the nightmarish dream out of my head. If I was on the highway to hell now, how much time do I have left.

I reached the office and to my anger and frustration, I found a keypad that said locked and a keypad that said activated. I was sure one was for the door and the other for the security system inside. I knew I wouldn't be getting in there today. I walked outside and into my speeder and flew to the hospital.
I arrived there in about five minutes and talked to the nurse, she told me Rook was in room 235 on the second floor, and was only open to family. I told her my name was Petey Garner, his only son. I got up to the room and was greeted by a not so warm expression, "Oh no, Murphy, not another damn game of poker..."

"No Rook, I'm thinking of another game, 20 questions. First, who's Joesph?"

"Oh sh-"

Before Rook could finish the profanity, a loud explosion came from outside. I looked out Rook's window and saw a flaming crater where my speeder used to be.

"Oh NO!"

"What, what Murphy" Rook was arching out of his bed.

"Wait here!"

"Well I'm not going anywhere.......dimwit!"

I ran out of his room, lets say this was more important that Rook at the time.

I reached the ground floor and ran outside. There were a crowd of people standing outside. I took look at the gaping big hole in the ground. Must of had to of been a pretty big explosion because all I saw were small pieces scattered all over the place. How am I going to get home now?

I took a look around, asking people if they had seen anything. Nobody knew what had happened.

"Just then, a man approached me.

"Are you the guy with the speeder".

"Well, I WAS the guy. Do you know something?"

"Well, if I were you, I would be asking that man some questions."

He pointed to a man in a black coat, fairly tall, walking away from the scene.

"Thanks."

I began to run after the man, but just as I was close, he turned around and saw me. He began to run too.

"Hey, you, get back here!"

I followed him for what seemed miles until we reached a small alleyway. I was pretty sure he went in here. As I walked down the alleyway, it only got darker and darker. The chances of finding a man in a black coat in darkness were pretty slim, but I was willing to do anything for my speeder. Then I heard a noise. Trashcans bating around. He made a run for it but I could see him clearly. He stooped though. He had his back to me. He had something in his hand, but I would not make out what it was. Just then, he turned around and threw it at me. It was a rock! I ducked out of the way to avoid being hit by the thing and then there was this bright light. It was blinding, coming from the man. A few seconds later, it was gone. He was gone two. I ran up to where the man was and took a look around. Nothing, nothing in site.

"Damn it!"

This case was really getting on my nerves. But I couldn't leave now. I took a walk back to the hospital.

The crowd had died down around the speeder, I mean crater, since I was there before. It was police business now.

I went back to Rook's room to finish of our little chat.

"Well, Murphy, bad day?"

"Yeah, well, at least I know what it's like to be old. No where to go, no means of transport and without a clue."

He gave a laugh. I could tell he had nothing to dish out in return.

"So Rook, who is Joseph?"

"I was hoping you would not ask me that because I don't have a clue myself."

"Well, the man who took a dive off your building mentioned something about a Joseph. Didn't mention anything about it to you?"

"Well, yes he did. But I thought he was a mad man. He came into my shop screaming 'where's Joseph, where's Joseph?' I had not idea what he was talking about, but he would not stop yelling at me. That was when you came in."

"And I left."

"Very good Murphy. Anyway he did not believe that I had no idea what he was talking about and kept on saying 'You know what I'm talking about' and he demanded he saw him. I told him with final emphasis that he either screw his head on straight of get out. Then he pulled a gun on me and shot me twice in the leg!"

"So you didn't find out about this Joseph?"

"Well, no."

"Damn it!"

"What?"

"Well...never mind. Listen stay put, I might need to ask you a few questions later. Stay here, things are getting too dangerous"

I went out of the room.

"Dangerous, Murphy, what do you mean dangerous." Rook was yelling from his room.

"Stay there!" I yelled from down the corridor.

"Damn Murphy!"

I came outside ready to hop into my speeder but I remembered, it's gone! So I caught the bus home.

When I entered my office, there was a fax waiting for me in the machine.

I went over to my fax machine and pull out the fax. There wasn't much written on it. There were three lines. On the first there was a number written: "71501". The second had another number "10983". Under that it said "Johnson."

I sat at my desk looking over the fax. I had no clue what it could mean. Just then another fax started coming through. After it finished I pulled it out. At the top of the page it said "Museum Security Schedule: Graveyard Shift". Underneath it listed times of breaks, patrolling areas and names of security guards. If I had to guess, I'd say someone wants me to get into Chester's office at the museum. Those two numbers are probably the codes to the door lock and office security system. I had no idea what Johnson meant, but hopefully I could figure that out once I got there. Now all I need to do is get passed the guards and security cameras. According to this schedule, the museum closed everyday at 6AM. I looked down at my watch. It was 5:15. Since I didn't have a speeder I figured I'd go down to the bus stop and catch a ride to the museum. If I could get in before it closed, I wouldn't have to sneak inside.